MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Philippine National Police has been acquitted of falsification and obstruction charges due to the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In a 14-page decision, the Sandiganbayan Second Division cleared Col. Nestor Aparecio Sator, regional chief and medicolegal officer of the PNP Regional Crime Laboratory Office 7. False autopsy report
He was earlier charged with violating Article 174(1) of the Revised Penal Code, also known as the Falsification of a Medical Certificate by a Physician, as well as Section 1(f) of Presidential Decree No. 1820, or the Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal Offenders for delaying an investigation by issuing a false autopsy report.
According to the prosecution, Sator allegedly took advantage of his position when he feloniously prepared and issued the autopsy report of one Mario Alfie Ducayag in April 2013.
Based on the paperwork that Sator prepared, it appeared that Ducayag died due to asphyxia due to bleeding from pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the prosecution asserted that in truth, the real cause of death was a traumatic neck injury.